tclarkwood Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 White-throated sparrows showed up today. I find it interesting that I have 2 female purple finches but no males. Tons of goldfinches emptying my thistle feeder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dred Posted December 10, 2018 Share Posted December 10, 2018 I've had lots of white throated sparrows this winter, but I'm really hoping for some juncos or a red breasted nuthatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird Brain Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 I have White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos (Oregon variety) as well as a Yellow-rumped Warbler that have come in to winter here. A few days ago this Ruby-crowned Kinglet showed up also. IMG_1855-001 by Wayne J Smith, on Flickr IMG_1858-001 by Wayne J Smith, on Flickr 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeInDallas Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 We had a ton of Starlings that came thru yesterday. I havent seen them since this time last year. They can go thru a block of suet in no time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclarkwood Posted December 20, 2018 Author Share Posted December 20, 2018 My yard has been very unremarkable for the last 3 weeks. Nothing interesting at all. We have had rain a lot so I'm wondering if that has affected how much the birds are out and about? I had a Ruby Crowned Kinglet visit me about this time of the year a few years ago. It is cool when he fluffs the tuft feathers up on his head and you can see that little red dot on the top of his head. Cool little bird. As small as a chickadee. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeInDallas Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Mine is not doing so well either. I think it must be the warmer than normal weather in my area, not too sure. First day of winter is tomorrow, so maybe theres hope on the horizon. I usually have a lot of Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Goldfinches, Carolina Wrens, Cedar Waxwings, Northern Mockingbirds, Red Winged Blackbirds, and Texas has so many woodpeckers, but right now I dont have any at all. I keep thinking maybe they will all show up soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuftedTitrat Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 I've just been having house sparrow after house sparrow. I rarely see a goldfinch up front (normally we have dozens this time of year!), in fact the Downy Woodpeckers seem to be enjoying the thistle more than the finches! However, I really can't complain since we've been having lots of hawks hanging out in our yard for the past few days, so I don't really blame the birds for being reluctant to feed here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dred Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 A few from the yard today, not all migrants, but still a pretty active afternoon. Yellow rumped warbler Cedar waxwings Orange crowned warbler Blue headed vireo White throated sparrow Pine warbler Red bellied woodpecker 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted December 25, 2018 Share Posted December 25, 2018 Sure as the swallows return to Capistrano in the spring, the Ring-Billed Gulls have returned to the Lexington, SC, K-Mart parking lot. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclarkwood Posted December 31, 2018 Author Share Posted December 31, 2018 Red-bellied woodpecker, juncos, goldfinches, white-throated sparrows, chipping sparrows, chickadee, titmouse, bluebirds, brown-headed nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, downy, carolina wren, cardinal, house finch, purple finch (female only), pine warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, blue jay and crow on the propery this past week. I went down to the Florida gulf coast for Christmas and was amazed at the number of warblers that have flooded the Panama City area that is still devestated in many areas from Hurricane Michael. Happpy New Year! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dred Posted January 14, 2019 Share Posted January 14, 2019 Had some purples show up this weekend 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclarkwood Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 Nothing else new for me.... Wait or Spring now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclarkwood Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 Does anyone understand the reason why Cedar Waxwings will sit together in the top of a tree all day and whistle to one another? I see this behavior every winter and I cannot figure out what they are doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Around here, they're feeding. I haven't figured out exactly which species of trees but many have food at the top. Depending on the types and size of the stand of trees, it may take them a few days to exhaust the food. Then they'll move on. If it looks like something else, would you post more details? Are they in the same trees all winter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclarkwood Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 One of the guys at work said they were feeding but I'm not sure what they are eating? There is a ton of missle toe in the tree shown in the photo but they don't see to be eating when I see them. What I notice is that they come to the same trees every year around the same time of year (right now). The part that is hard for me to figure out is that they seem to be resting and just whistling to each other. All day. Whistling. I'll let you know when they leave. I don't think they are feeding personally. I don't see them eating anything. Maybe when I look up and watch them is when they are taking a break from eating? The trees are Bradford Pears and some type of Oak that doesn't get very large. They are supposed to be large ornamental trees of some type. I just don't know much about this bird and they are intriguing to me because I've never seen one by itself. They are always in a group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I dunno about there, but here Bradford Pears have small fruits about the size of garbanzo bean and the waxwings love 'em. Mistletoe berries are also a popular food with grazing migrants. There's a reason they returning to these same trees every year. Since they don't provide shelter and it isn't breeding season, food is about the only motivating factor left. Waxwings are one of those species that flock together in the winter. You'll see them individually and in pairs during the breeding season but, as you noticed, they are always in a group in the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 FINALLY. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Siskin! They took their sweet time getting there from here. Must have stopped over in Aiken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 . . . I should have resized the photo before I threw it on Imgur. Lol. But yeah, they sure took their sweet time! Glad to see him, though. Hope he sticks around, and some of his buddies show up! He was having to hang out with the goldfinches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeInDallas Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 I think this is an American Robin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 You are correck-et! But that business about robins being a sign of spring depends heavily on what part of the country you're in. I have some winters here in SC when they hang around consistently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bird Brain Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 2 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: You are correck-et! But that business about robins being a sign of spring depends heavily on what part of the country you're in. I have some winters here in SC when they hang around consistently. Very true. When I lived in N Alabama as a kid, Robins were a sign of Spring. After we moved to Fla they were a Winter bird, being there in large flocks till Spring. I think now they tend to winter farther north, as many species are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tclarkwood Posted January 30, 2019 Author Share Posted January 30, 2019 On 1/23/2019 at 10:22 AM, tclarkwood said: One of the guys at work said they were feeding but I'm not sure what they are eating? There is a ton of missle toe in the tree shown in the photo but they don't see to be eating when I see them. What I notice is that they come to the same trees every year around the same time of year (right now). The part that is hard for me to figure out is that they seem to be resting and just whistling to each other. All day. Whistling. I'll let you know when they leave. I don't think they are feeding personally. I don't see them eating anything. Maybe when I look up and watch them is when they are taking a break from eating? The trees are Bradford Pears and some type of Oak that doesn't get very large. They are supposed to be large ornamental trees of some type. I just don't know much about this bird and they are intriguing to me because I've never seen one by itself. They are always in a group. Follow Up... the Cedar waxwings were eating mulberries. I did not realize there were mulberry trees in that same group of trees. They are chowing down for a few weeks and they will leave at some point. Thanks for the follow up. My bluebirds are getting active fighting over suet. I have 6-8 bluebirds with only one breeding box so there is going to be plenty of bluebird fights over the next 3 months! Ha Ha! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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